Tunnel rings are being installed through a shaft near the Wilshire/Western subway station. (photo courtesy of Metro)

Metro will suspend work along the Purple Line Extension subway project today, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. Construction will resume on July 5.

A webinar on phases 1 and 2 of subway construction from Beverly Hills to Koreatown is being held on Wednesday, July 10, from noon to 1 p.m. The public is invited to participate. Project overviews and construction updates will be provided. To join the webinar, call (650)479-3207. The access code is 803 402 197, and the password is Purple.

Metro is also providing information about Purple Line Extension work in Beverly Hills at a meeting on July 10, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Beverly Hills City Hall, Second Floor Municipal Gallery, 445 N. Rexford Drive. Updates will be provided about construction at and around the Wilshire/La Cienega and Wilshire/Rodeo subway stations.

Work is occurring along many phases of the Purple Line Extension project from Wilshire/Western to Century City. Twin tunnel boring machines recently completed excavation from La Brea Avenue to Wilshire/Western and parts of the machines will be removed from the ground in the coming weeks and reinserted at La Brea Avenue for the next phase of digging toward Beverly Hills. They will be reassembled with other components of the machines that will be brought back to the La Brea Avenue staging yards through the tunnels.

From Monday, July 8, through Monday, July 15, westbound Wilshire Boulevard will close to all traffic from Western Avenue to Manhattan Place from midnight to 6 a.m. The closure supports the relocation of the first tunnel boring machine. Westbound traffic will be detoured southbound on Western Avenue to Olympic Boulevard, westbound to La Brea Avenue, and north to Wilshire Boulevard.

Farther west, hauling, deliveries and tunneling support continues near Wilshire Boulevard and La Brea Avenue, and from a work zone in the middle of Wilshire Boulevard just east of Sycamore Avenue. Intermittent lane closures will be necessary along Wilshire Boulevard and side streets between Highland Avenue and Detroit Street.

Near Wilshire Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue, excavation, hauling and structures work are ongoing. Ogden Drive will be intermittently closed at Wilshire Boulevard to support construction, and intermittent lane closures may be in place to support deck panel maintenance around the future Fairfax Avenue station area.

Instrumentation work, utility work and street maintenance are ongoing near Wilshire and La Cienega Boulevards. Intermittent lane closures and turn restrictions on both streets may be in place during non-rush hour traffic periods.

Driveway installation is planned in mid-July at the North Canon Drive staging yard at 9383 to 9393 Wilshire Blvd. and 9395 to 9399 Wilshire Blvd., and at the Reeves Staging Yard, 9430 Wilshire Blvd. The work will last approximately five days and sidewalks will be closed. Intermittent lane closures may also be necessary on westbound Wilshire Boulevard and northbound Canon Drive. Two lanes will be maintained on Wilshire Boulevard for eastbound and westbound traffic.

At other locations in Beverly Hills, excavation continues from the construction staging yards at Wilshire/La Cienega and Wilshire/Gale. Gale Drive will be intermittently closed at Wilshire Boulevard to support excavation in the Gale Staging Yard. Hauling hours are anticipated to increase as excavation continues under Wilshire Boulevard. For questions and concerns, call the 24-hour project hotline at (213)922-6934, email the project team at purplelineext@metro.net or visit metro.net.